Since 2009 the Alliance for Biking & Walking has solicited public nominations to help shine the spotlight on those making a difference for the bicycle and pedestrian advocacy movement. This week The Alliance announced its 2012 Advocacy Award Winners who are leading the way in the “people powered movement.”
Advocacy Organization of the Year – WalkBoston
Founded in 1990, this group led the way not just in Bean Town but nationally. In 2011, WalkBoston launched its “Good Walking is Good Business” campaign that highlighted the economic benefits of walkable communities, and distributed 40,000 copies of a federally funded research project to develop and test innovative tools to engage underrepresented populations in the planning process.
Advocate of the Year – Eric Rogers, BikeWalkKC
Because of Eric Rogers Kansas City is a better place. Rogers’ long-standing involvement at the state and local level has earned him a reputation as both a passionate advocacy leader for the Missouri Bicycle and Pedestrian Federation, and trusted, go-to expert on bike-ped issues for policymakers of all stripes. While he chairs the Kansas City Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee and serves as the executive director of BikeWalkKC, Rogers spends countless hours attending hearings and meetings across the region; working behind the scenes to keep advocates updated; and improving critical education and encouragement programs like the KC Car-Free Challenge and KC Safer Routes.
Business Advocate of the Year: CLIF Bar
While many cyclists may know the brand for its good taste, we agree with the Alliance that it is also a great company. With its innovative 2 Mile Challenge, CLIF Bar continued to raise awareness about the power and possibility of biking for transportation in 2011, spurring thousands of people to log their trips on the website that tracked metrics like miles pedaled, car trips avoided and carbon dioxide saved.
Winning Campaign of the Year – Bike Delaware
With a tiny budget, the advocacy organization pioneered new ground in statewide bike-ped advocacy with its “Walkable, Bikeable Delaware” campaign, not only securing critical funding, but also cultivating key relationships at the state capitol and working with the Delaware Department of Transportation on the state’s first State Trails and Pathways Plan.
Best Practices – League of Illinois Bicyclists
From Chicago to Springfield and beyond, Illinois is becoming a better place to cycle thanks to the League of Illinois Bicyclists. In 2011, the League of Illinois Bicyclists played a critical role in the effort to preserve dedicated funding for biking and walking in the next federal transportation bill.
Susie Stephens Joyful Enthusiasm Award – Julia Field
This award commemorates Alliance co-founder, Susie Stephens, honoring her passion for biking and walking as fun, economical means of transportation. The parallels between Susie and Julia are many. As one nomination pointed out: “Like Susie, Julia knows that people want to do good things — sometimes they just need ideas and cheerleading.”
Innovation Award – BikeTexas
Down in the heart of Texas they are thinking big about cycling. This group continues to cultivate new and effective models in working effectively with the full spectrum of political perspectives and community stakeholders. Thanks in part to its traveling bicycle fleet, BikeTexas has organized rides with policymakers, agency staff and nonprofit organizations that have cultivated important political relationships and built bridges with new constituencies, including a 2011 President’s Award from the state NAACP for “going above and beyond the call of duty to develop interest in biking and green benefits from biking in the African American Community.”
Congratulations to all the 2012 Advocacy Award Winners!